Is a non-chrome lined barrel on an AR a dealbreaker?

[ProCarryNAustin]

"why do you need a military-derived, collapsible stocked, semi-auto capable of using high-capacity magazines in the first place?"

I wanted a carbine that would be light, easy to handle, accurate and work for hunting and self-defense. RRA in 6.8 SPC. Hard to find any other platform that will cover the bases as well. Will defend the castle an also do a number on deer, hogs, 2 legged dirty skunks and just about anything else I might come across.

Daniel
Austin, Texas

 

[rbernie]

Why do everyday 9 to 5 day job people who shoot their rifle maybe once a week AT A RANGE and clean it immediately afterwards feel they MUST have a chrome lined bore?

I just don't get it.

For a range toy - this is an accurate statement. For a truck gun (not a jungle, but lots of condensation and such) or a gun that'll see lots and lots of rounds (a 'practical' gaming gun comes to mind), it's sure nice to have even if the benefit isn't immediately quantifiable.

My varmint ARs have stainless barrels. My 'social uses' ARs that are likely to get little attention and be subject to lots o' damp conditions all have chrome lined barrels. My bambi-huntin' ARs that get pampered like a range gun all have chome-moly unlined barrels.

Works for me.

 

[BHPshooter]

Wow. I am even more confused now.

My primary role to fill is that of a SHTF gun. It will see use in 3-gun matches and the occasional camping trip, but since I don't have a rifle (other than a .22), I want to fill the role of "defensive rifle" first.

This is the DSA I'm looking at. (The pic is not exactly right -- this one doesn't have the Hogue PG or the Magpul trigger guard.)

My other option is a Stag Model 2.

I dunno, guys... for my purposes, I am leaning a little towards the Stag. It has a carbine-length gas system, but a chrome-lined barrel.

So Confused!
Wes

 

[Toten Kopf]

For me it's not a deal breaker...

Most of you people will never ever need a chromed lined barrel. Like someone else said, "Mall Ninja crap". Wanna-be's...

Most of you think that you will be involved in WWIII next week, but have never had any training to ensure your survival.

If you have a chomed line barrel, that's okay, if you don't that's okay too. I have both types and honestly I couldn't care less which one I use.

I take care of all my equipment the same so if I shoot one or the other, it gets cleaned regardless.

 

[.38 Special]

Toten wins the thread.

Next?

 

[PPGMD]

So having a barrel that will last much much longer then a non-chrome lined barrel is "Mall ninja crap."

Chrome lining is nearly twice as hard the steel used in the barrel, and can extend barrel life dramatically.

 

[kcshooter]

Yeah they work, but they won't last as long, and they don't perform as well other brands.

They'll outlast almost every AR owner. They are the top performers as far as accuracy is concerned.

chrome lining is not just about rust prevention, but about maximizing reliability and barrel life at a slight cost to accuracy

As far as reliability, that goes for the chambers only. As far as barrel life, see above.

If we want to go down the slippery slope of "necessity", why do you need a military-derived, collapsible stocked, semi-auto capable of using high-capacity magazines in the first place?

Lets not go there. Call an AR a "want" if you like, but I also don't want to pay more for a chrome lining that serves me no purpose. If there's an option, great, at least I don't have to have it.

So having a barrel that will last much much longer then a non-chrome lined barrel is "Mall ninja crap."

Chrome lining is nearly twice as hard the steel used in the barrel, and can extend barrel life dramatically.

Have you ever shot out an AR barrel? Have you ever come close?
Didn't think so, so you don't need it.

 

[Toten Kopf]

So having a barrel that will last much much longer then a non-chrome lined barrel is "Mall ninja crap."

Chrome lining is nearly twice as hard the steel used in the barrel, and can extend barrel life dramatically.

So, when was the last time you shot out a barrel?

On one barrel I have shot over 10,000 rounds (that's correct, 10,000) and it still shoots well and it's just a plain Jane chrome moly barrel!

Look, if you want a chromed barrel, go for it. But saying that you "need" a chromed barrel is another story.

 

[.38 Special]

If you can afford to shoot out a barrel you afford to buy a new one on occasion.

But I have a feeling that, on average, the kind of folks who think chrome lining is critical are the same kind of folks that spend their range days turning their BMF "Activator" cranks with the cheapest brand of Bulgarian-made ammo they can find and wouldn't be able to identify a shot-out barrel on a bet.

Or maybe I'm just in a bad mood.

 

[PPGMD]

They'll outlast almost every AR owner. They are the top performers as far as accuracy is concerned.

Have you ever shot out an AR barrel? Have you ever come close?
Didn't think so, so you don't need it.

I know several people that have worn out stainless barrels. OTOH I don't think I've ever met anyone that has worn out a chrome lined barrel outside of machine guns.

I personally put 6k a year down range with my AR plus training classes 1,000-2000 rounds. But that is all down my chrome lined gun. I wouldn't even consider doing that many rounds down my stainless tube. And I wouldn't even own a non-chrome lined moly steeled barreled gun.

 

[Shear_stress]

As far as reliability, that goes for the chambers only. As far as barrel life, see above.

So you acknowledge that chroming does serve a purpose. Good, at least that's more than those who seem to equate it with tactical lights and "Extreme-Shok" ammo.

Didn't think so, so you don't need it.

Please reread my post regarding where talking about "need" gets you.

If there's an option, great, at least I don't have to have it.

We can definately agree on this. I prefer iron sights, standard furniture, simplicity and light weight on my ARs, but am willing to pay <=4% more for a chrome-lined bore. You're not? Good for you. It's still a free country.

Yes, there is a lot of snobbery and kool-aid drinking with this and all other hobbies. But the snobbery cuts both ways, and there are a lot of people who won't pay a dime for a feature they can't see from the outside of a gun and think that those who do must be suckers. It reminds me of a few people I've met who don't like coffee. Instead of just saying "nope, I just don't care for it", they feel they need to rationalize their taste by painting coffee drinkers as addicts and coffee as something akin to liquid heroin.

 

[HankC]

I bought chrome lined because I shoot cheap steel case ammo. chrome lined chamber helps extraction. I probably would not want chrome lined if I only shoot high $ brass ammo and want max accuracy. For the same reason, you choose 5.56 chamber vs .223 chamber.

 

[Toten Kopf]

I find it just amazing that before barrel chroming, any rifle would even work.

Like the M1, M14, Thompson just to name some. I'm sure that some of those weapons have endured more crap than anyone here has put their rifle through.

It all gets down to what you want, not what you need.

 

[Shear_stress]

I find it just amazing that before barrel chroming, any rifle would even work.

Like the M1, M14, Thompson just to name some. I'm sure that some of those weapons have endured more crap than anyone here has put their rifle through.

I don't want nuthin' to do with them newfangled repeaters. Gimme a blackpower singleshot smokepole anyday. Served me right in the Civil War.

It all gets down to what you want, not what you need.

Yep.

 

[PPGMD]

The guns had much lower expected barrel lives. The M1 had a realistic barrel life of around 10k. I've heard of chrome lined ARs going 40k+ without a loss of accuracy.

 

[FlyinBryan]

so whats the best 100 yard accuracy you can get out of a chrome lined barrel?

 

[H2O MAN]

Is a non-chrome lined barrel on an AR a dealbreaker?

Only if you had your heart set on a chrome lined barrel...

 

[Toten Kopf]

so whats the best 100 yard accuracy you can get out of a chrome lined barrel?

Okay, I'm waiting to hear about all the -MOA groups.

I shoot a lot of competition with the AR and when I see a question like this and the answers I see, boy-o-boy...

There are more Olympic caliber shooters on the internet than in reality.

 

[the foot]

If you want to avoid thorough cleanup after playing shooter, by all means insist on a chrome lined barrel.

Otherwise it doesn't matter - if the SHTF one of these days, All of our weapons will work like a charm if we have taken care of them.

 

[Toten Kopf]

The guns had much lower expected barrel lives. The M1 had a realistic barrel life of around 10k. I've heard of chrome lined ARs going 40k+ without a loss of accuracy.

You heard...he/she said...

This is one reason why people are buying chromed lined barrels, like they will even shoot 10,000 rounds.

Like I said, I have a standard chrome moly barel with over 10,000 rounds fired and it's still accurate. Maybe not as accurate as when new, but then what barrel will?

Note: I'm having more fun with this thread than Carter has liver pills...

 

[Joe Demko]

Time for some folks in this thread to take a deep breath and step away from the keyboard, I think. There are an awful lot of almost-but-not-quite insults and insinuations of lying being flung around. There's no reason for any of it. If you have something practical and factual to say about chrome lined or unlined barrels, say it. If what you have to say is about "the kind of people who own..." then it is probably best left unsaid.

 

[PPGMD]

I've never shot sub-MOA with a chrome lined barrel, but with a good shooter, and a good barrel, just under MOA is certainly possible.

 

[Toten Kopf]

Okay, I'm outta-here...

The PC people are sniffing around. I don't want to hurt anyones feelings with the facts!

 

[PPGMD]

Toten,

I didn't personally see the 40k, but it's a rental gun at a training school.

 

[RockyMtnTactical]

PFFT! LOL How much time have you spent crawling round in the jungle with your AR-15?

What does that have to do with anything.

For me, chrome lining (or lack thereof) is a dealbreaker. For you, it isn't. Get over it.